28/11/2020
We are witnessing a new era of travelling.
The unprecedented challenge represented by COVID-19 has radically changed this industry. As we look to the future, we are all rethinking the new travel experience trying to figure out what it might look like. How will the flying experience change? Will the way we book tours change? What health and safety measures will airports implement? Who will advise me if I have a problem or need?
While technology enables greater personalization and offers us new possibilities, human beings still are at the core of customer experience. Empathy plays an important role at the time of assembling a tour indeed. In order to create complex itineraries that require qualified expertise, and even more so when plans change, the need for human contact and the experience of a Travel Agent are essential. As a consequence of ever-changing border controls, travel policy and sanitary restrictions, the role of the Travel Agent is arguably more crucial than ever.
My over 30-year-long professional experience in the tourism industry has matched my passion for the opera world several times, as it led me to personally meet renowned opera artists on so many occasions. The combination of both aspects made me aware that the tour-planning process has been mostly regarded as a problem, a great waste of time and resources by the Artist or his Management Agency. This is due to the great amount of details and expertise required. On many occasions, if each variable (such as the best applicable rates, or booking airfares that allow changes or reissues, etc.) hadn’t been considered, it would have implied a significant monetary loss as well.
This new reality actually implies substantial challenges and a much greater responsibility at the time of booking a tour. In this respect, the role of the Travel Agent could possibly turn out to be more relevant than ever, as we could provide all the required information in a single consult .
Furthermore, I am totally aware of all special requirements artists may have, such as flexible flights, last minute changes, accommodation, private transfers, etc. In my experience, Artists highly appreciate that someone takes care of all these details, and that an expert advisor can immediately solve their needs.
Lyric TravelSolutions arises from this perspective of Global service. From the travel request we provide all the combinations and best available rates and their features. We take care of sending the boarding passes, seat reservation, Frequent Flyer cards, health information of each country and its conditions and requirements for entry and stay in it, as well as possible quarantines, ticket changes, reissues, etc., always with a personalized service for each artist and special requirements.
From the Viajes Turinter’s Technical Advisory, who has the important added value of being part of the Lufthansa City Center group, a fact that provides a great negotiation capacity and access to special rates and advantageous conditions in practically all airlines in the world.. I sincerely believe that such organizational responsibility should not be neither on the artists nor their representatives or agents. For this reason, I hope for your trust, in order to help you and contribute with my long professional experience in the world of opera.
Sincerely,
Miquel Pérez
General Manager